When Lu Ming’an moved in earlier that day, Lin Zhitang hadn’t felt much about it. But now, belatedly, she realized that tonight, the entire Lin Mansion truly held only the two of them.
In her previous life, Lin Zhitang had been forced to marry Wu Jianguo. After marriage, every day was either labor or beatings. She had never experienced a normal courtship process. Before that, she had also been completely ignorant about love and relationships.
First, Lin Zhitang had never liked anyone before. Second, even though Lin Chennian had been attentive, he was still a man, and there were things he simply could not account for. Besides, he had never planned to marry his daughter off so early, so he had never discussed such matters with Lin Zhitang.
She and Lu Ming’an had only known each other for two days. Although she had agreed to marry him, and the two had spent time alone together, being alone together was still different from living under the same roof. Even if they were not sharing the same room, Lin Zhitang still felt nervous and uneasy.
She was still wondering how to start a conversation. They couldn’t possibly just stand there awkwardly in silence forever, when Lu Ming’an’s voice suddenly sounded beside her.
“Zhitang, you’ve been tired all day. Go upstairs and get some rest. Don’t worry, with me here tonight, nothing will happen again.”
Seeing the slight redness in Lin Zhitang’s ears, Lu Ming’an knew she was feeling uncomfortable and took the initiative to speak first.
Lu Ming’an thought to himself that tomorrow he should call and urge the approval of their marriage application again. The last time he called home, he had also contacted his superior. He wondered whether the marriage report had already been approved.
Although Lin Zhitang’s identity was sensitive, with the Lu family backing her, passing the political review would not be a problem.
“Okay, Ming’an-ge, you should rest early too.” Lin Zhitang smiled at him before turning upstairs toward her room.
Actually, she wanted to ask Lu Ming’an what he thought about everything that had happened today. But since he didn’t ask, she decided to let it go.
One reason was that she truly was exhausted. She hadn’t rested well the previous night, and she had been acting since early morning. All she wanted now was proper sleep.
Another reason was that she still hadn’t figured out how to explain the matters concerning Su Ya and Su Yun. Besides, things were far from over. Su Ya and Su Yun would never simply let this go.
After washing up, Lin Zhitang lay down on her bed. Perhaps because Lu Ming’an was just next door, giving her an unexpected sense of security, she quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, after getting up and washing up, Lin Zhitang went downstairs and saw Lu Ming’an returning from outside carrying breakfast.
Sweat glistened on his forehead, and there was a strong masculine scent about him. Yet unlike other men, he didn’t smell unpleasant at all.
“Ming’an-ge, you woke up so early.” As Lin Zhitang approached him and caught his scent, her palm-sized face flushed slightly red.
“I’m used to waking early. How did you sleep? I bought breakfast. See if it suits your taste.”
“I slept very well. Ming’an-ge, Shanghai breakfasts are all pretty good. Have you tried them? Can you get used to the taste?”
“Not yet. I’m not picky. I can eat anything.”
“Then let’s eat together. But Ming’an-ge, I’m afraid you probably won’t get to eat breakfast made by me in the future.”
“It’s alright. The army has a cafeteria. You don’t need to cook.” Looking at the lively and pretty Lin Zhitang, Lu Ming’an’s lips curved slightly upward.
A pampered little girl like her deserved to continue being cherished.
“I can cook, and I cook very well too. I just can’t wake up early in the morning. I won’t let you eat at the cafeteria every day.” Lin Zhitang smiled brightly at him.
Before marrying Wu Jianguo in her previous life, she truly couldn’t cook. But after marrying him, under Madam Wu’s constant criticism and the endless fault-finding of her stepchildren, her cooking skills had gradually improved.
From not knowing how to cook at all, to becoming skilled enough to make delicious meals, Lin Zhitang had suffered countless injuries along the way.
After breakfast, Lin Zhitang took Lu Ming’an out with her.
She led him through several bus transfers before finally arriving at their destination.
If the area around Lin Mansion could be considered the rich district, then this place was the poorest area in all of Shanghai. Even thieves would not bother coming here.
Lu Ming’an did not know where Lin Zhitang intended to go, but he did not ask any questions. He simply followed her quietly.
The two stopped in front of a shabby old house. Lin Zhitang knocked on the door.
“Grandpa Wen, An’an, it’s me, Zhitang.”
The door opened, and a half-grown child rushed out.
“Tangtang-jie, you’re here!”
Lin Zhitang rubbed the child’s head and asked, “That’s right. How have you and Grandpa Wen been lately?”
“We’re doing fine. Everyone around here is poor, so nobody comes here to cause us trouble.”
“That’s good. Where’s your grandfather?”
“He’s inside. As soon as I heard it was you, I ran over to open the door.”
The three walked inside together.
“Tangtang is here.” An elderly man walked out of the room with a warm smile.
“Grandpa Wen, I came to visit you!”
The Wen family had been a hereditary imperial physician family for generations. Their line was thin, with only one descendant per generation. Now only Old Master Wen and his grandson remained as the sole surviving bloodline.
Though the family had declined, they still retained some connections, so after receiving advance warning, they had hidden themselves early in the slums.
“An’an and I are doing fine. This place isn’t safe. I told you not to come here so often, but you never listen.” The old man smiled happily.
Wen Yuanliang invited them inside. The slums were impoverished. Even during the daytime, the room remained dim. There were barely any decent furnishings, and aside from basic daily necessities, there was almost nothing else.
Wen Yuanliang pointed toward Lu Ming’an and asked, “And this young man is…?”
He had noticed Lu Ming’an immediately. The young man carried himself with extraordinary bearing, but more importantly, every time he looked at Lin Zhitang, affection shone clearly in his eyes.
“Grandpa Wen, this is my fiancé, Lu Ming’an. Ming’an-ge, this is Wen Yuanliang, Grandpa Wen, who watched me grow up. And this is Grandpa Wen’s grandson, Wen Baizhou. His nickname is An’an.”
Wen Yuanliang’s gaze moved back and forth between the two several times before the smile on his face deepened.
“Not bad, not bad at all.”
“Come here, let Grandpa Wen check your pulse.”
Lin Zhitang sat down obediently and extended her hand.
After checking her pulse, Wen Yuanliang nodded.
“Your pulse condition is fairly good. Here’s the prescription. But you still need proper conditioning.”
“Grandpa Wen, I really don’t want to drink the medicine you prescribe. It’s too bitter.” Lin Zhitang hugged Wen Yuanliang’s arm and protested strongly.
Ever since childhood, every time she fell ill, she drank Grandpa Wen’s medicine. It was unbearably bitter.
Wen Yuanliang knew very well how difficult she was whenever it came to taking medicine. He snorted coldly.
“Tangtang, don’t even think about it. You must drink it. Are you refusing to listen to me now?”
Of course she couldn’t refuse. Lin Zhitang knew he was doing it for her own good. What else could she do except obey?
“Young man, your physique looks pretty good too. Come, let me take a look at you as well.” Wen Yuanliang motioned for Lu Ming’an to sit.
Lu Ming’an hesitated, but Lin Zhitang urged him, “Ming’an-ge, hurry up. In the past, countless people begged Grandpa Wen for a single consultation and never got the chance. Today, if it weren’t for my sake, you wouldn’t have this blessing.”
Hearing this made Wen Yuanliang extremely proud. What the old man treasured most in life was his medical skill. If not for Lin Zhitang’s sake, he would never have examined Lu Ming’an after sensing the young man’s doubt. He might even have thrown him out.
Left with no choice, Lu Ming’an sat down and extended his hand.
Wen Yuanliang examined him for a long while before falling silent for a moment.
“You once suffered serious injuries during a mission, didn’t you? Fortunately, you received timely treatment and used excellent medicine. Your foundation is strong, so recovery is possible. I’ll prescribe a month’s worth of medicine. Take it morning and evening according to the prescription, and it will replenish what your body lost.”
Only after hearing this did Lin Zhitang finally feel relieved. Lu Ming’an, meanwhile, developed deep respect for the old man’s medical skill.
The two thanked Wen Yuanliang sincerely. Lin Zhitang explained that she would soon be leaving Shanghai and hoped Grandpa Wen would take good care of his health.
“I’m already an old bag of bones. Every extra day I live is a bonus. I only can’t let go of my only grandson. An’an has never enjoyed a single day of good fortune since birth. His mother died early, his father also passed away young, and now he still has to hide in this place with me.
“Tangtang, if one day I’m gone, please help me protect the only bloodline of the Wen family. Let him grow up safely.”
“Grandpa Wen, don’t say such things. I don’t like hearing them. You’ll definitely live to a hundred years old, and An’an will definitely grow up safely too.” Lin Zhitang puffed her cheeks and pretended to glare at him angrily.
Wen Yuanliang did not refute her words. He knew she had already agreed.
He too would strive to continue living—to live long enough to see the country welcome brighter days, to see his grandson grow up, and to pass down the Wen family legacy. But if anything unexpected truly happened, he knew Lin Zhitang would look after An’an.
On the way back, Lin Zhitang told Lu Ming’an about the Wen family and hoped they could help Grandpa Wen and An’an.
In times like these, even if it were not for preserving the valuable treasures left behind by their ancestors, healing the sick and saving lives was never wrong. Unfortunately…
Lin Zhitang did not dwell excessively on things she had no power to change. That was not wise.
Even setting aside the generations of friendship between the Wen and Lin families, Grandpa Wen had treated both her father’s illness and her own childhood illnesses. Naturally, she would do everything she could to help them.
However, her own strength was limited, so she hoped to borrow the power of the Lu family to assist the Wens—provided it would not endanger Lu Ming’an or the Lu family.
An’an was still just a child. He should not have to suffer because of the unfairness of this era. He had already reached school age two years ago, but because of the times, they dared not send him to school and could only rely on Grandpa Wen teaching him at home.
Lu Ming’an agreed that if an opportunity arose, he would certainly help them.
He already had an idea in mind, but he was still uncertain whether it was feasible and needed to discuss it with Old Master Lu first, so he did not mention it to Lin Zhitang yet.